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Friday, August 4, 2023
Vol. 72, No. 31
N E W H Y D E PA R K
HOME & DESIGN
WILLISTON PARK NATIVE TRAINING MLB DRAFTEES
KEY WITNESS AGAINST MANGANO SENTENCED
PAGES 21-32
PAGE 3
PAGE 6
SOFT SERVE
Dems file suit over new county maps Suit says partisan advantage designed to give GOP edge BY C A M E RY N O A K ES Nassau County residents and the Nassau County Democratic Committee filed a lawsuit against Nassau County’s recently redrawn legislative map, citing an alleged illegal partisan advantage for the Republican Party in county Legislature elections. “This is an illegal map that prevents all voters, especially voters of color, from electing candidates of their choice,” NAACP New York State Conference Civic Engagement Chair H. Scottie Coads said. “This
lawsuit is about ensuring everyone’s votes mean something.” The new Nassau County Legislative District map, which would be in effect for the next 10 years, was approved Feb. 27 by the Republicancontrolled Legislature along party lines. The map was presented on Feb. 21 by the majority caucus. The map set off a firestorm when Democrat Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport) criticized the Republican legislators for working in “secrecy” so they could keep their advantage over the next decade.
Abrahams has been placed into a district inhabited by more Republicans than the current 1st District. Democratic County Legislator Arnold Drucker expressed in a February statement his displeasure with the proposal that splits Plainview and redraws the lines in his district. “The current proposal is an extreme partisan gerrymander that carves apart Plainview and other communities across the 16th Legislative District,” Drucker previously said. “This is not about the political fate of one person over another – it Continued on Page 42
Elmont principal picked to replace Dougherty H. Frank Carey H.S. also gets new school leader BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y PHOTO COURTESY OF THE KIDDIE ACADEMY OF FLORAL PARK
The Kiddie Academy of Floral Park recently hosted a ice cream social for families.
The Sewanhaka Central High School District filled two vacancies last week by appointing principals to Elmont and H. Frank Carey High Schools. Marya Baker, Elmont’s new principal, replaces Kevin Dougherty, who left the district in June after serving eight years, while Jennifer Alaimo leaves her assistant principal role at Floral Park High School. Dougherty in October returned early from an unexpected sabbatical that was announced days before classes started last year. News of
Dougherty’s sabbatical led to a protest outside Sewanhaka’s district office from families and a student walkout on the first day of classes last year. Dougherty’s supporters were against his leaving Dougherty will be receiving as much as $400,000 after departing from the district in June from a separation agreement signed last year, Newsday reported. The agreement includes Dougherty’s $207,816.84 salary and potential bonuses of $203,908.50, the newspaper said. Baker comes to Elmont after serving as the principal of the Carol and Frank Biondi Middle and High School
in Yonkers. On top of her duties as principal, Baker was also responsible for therapeutic crisis intervention and social-emotional learning programs, according to a release from the district. Passing rates for state Regents exams and state-mandated exams improved under Baker’s watch along with graduation rates. District parents were given a say in the search for a new principal as an interview committee of 12 parents was created. Elmont residents were critical of the board and specifically former President Michael Jaime, one of two liaisons to Elmont. Continued on Page 43